Adventist Community Services Offers Help Following Rash of Violent Tornadoes in North Texas

Adventist Community Services Disaster Response (ACS DR) is responding to the devastating tornado outbreak that hit last night in the Granbury and Cleburne, Texas area. There were ten tornadoes that affected the area, some as strong as an F4 category, killing six people, and injuring dozens of others. Several people are still unaccounted for. Several Adventist members have been directly affected by this devastating outbreak. One family lost their business. Some of the Texas Conference staff members are helping them with debris removal today.

ACS DR workers and volunteers are delivering water and other emergency supplies to a rural trailer park where hundreds of people lived. Along with the devastation from the tornado, their water supply was compromised. "We are responding from the Depot, so far with emergency supplies that we have on hand," said Sherry Watts, Texas ACS DR Assistant. "There will be more needs surfacing, I am sure."

A Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) from the Arlington, Texas, church is en route to assist in whatever way they are able. ACS DR is standing ready with the Mobile Distribution Unit, a semi-truck that contains prepackaged clothing outfits, personal care kits, and blankets, ready to serve as needs are identified.

How you and your church or group can helpIf you would like to help, financial donations are always the most useful since they can be used immediately for whatever needs arise. Please consider making a donation to ACS DR and help your church make a difference in the lives of disaster survivors.

Another way to help is for groups to create various types of personal care kits that can be distributed immediately to disaster survivors. Instructions and lists for different types of kits can be found at the NAD ACS website.

Some might want to become a trained volunteer or leader, ready to serve in the traumatic aftermath of disasters. ACS offers training for various aspects of community service, and the training schedule is posted and regularly updated at the NAD ACS website.